On May 28, 0:01, jkunz_at_unixag-kl.fh-kl.de wrote:
> > Well, if you have a real RX02, it can "reformat" RX01 disks.
> [...]
> This is weird. Typical DEC. ;-)
I couldn't possibly comment :-)
> This means that all I need is to format a 5,25" SD floppy with 77
> tracks, 128 bytes per sector, and 26 sectors and it will work at least
> as RX01?
Yes, but get the data rate correct. An 8" disk uses twice the data rate of
a 5.25" disk for the same density. And an 8" disk spins at 360 rpm,
whereas (at least for SD and DD) a normal 5.25" spins at 300 rpm. That's
why Mitsubishi used to make special (expensive) 5.25" drives to emulate 8"
drives. However, HD drives normally spin at 360 rpm.
> > Your RQDX controllers certainly can't do it.
> Even with xxdp? Just dding the xxdp image with the VAX and using it on
> the 11/73 would be easy. I have only one PC that is in working order
> (my server), but the floppy interface on this machine is broken...
No, I never heard of any XXDP utility to format floppies other than RX33,
and I doubt if it's possible. The work is all done by the RQDX controller.
RQDX1 and RQDX2 can't format floppies at all. RQDX3 can format RX33. You
need a Rainbow (or a PC, or an Archimedes) to format RX50.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
Received on Sun May 27 2001 - 18:19:18 BST